cloos



Patented Apr. ll, I899.

2 Sheets$haat I.

J. CLOOS.

(Application filed Feb. 7, 1898.)

No. 623,l20.

SWITCHING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF COUNTEBAGTING ARCS.

(No Model) 1622292655 e5. MJMJM/ No. 623,:20. Patented Apr. 1899.

v J. cLoos.

SWITCHING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CUUNTERACTIIE ARCS.

(Application filed Feb. 7, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Ilodal.)

(Mnessaa n4: noams pznzns c0. vHm'o-mno. WASHINGTON, n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT CEEIcE.

JACOB CLOCS, OF MILIVAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLOOS ELECTRICALENGINEERING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SWITCHING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF COUNTERACTING ARCS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,120, dated April11, 1899.

Application filed February 7, 1898- Serial No. 669,296. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB CLOOS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofVisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inSwitching Apparatus and Method of Counteracting Arcs, (Case N o. 4,)

of which the following is a full, clear, concise,

and exact description.

My invention relates to controlling circuits and a method ofextinguishing or counteractin g arcs between contact parts.

The apparatus of the invention is primarily designed for use incontrolling the distribution of multiphase currents, although it may beemployed inother connections.

The invention has forits object the improvement in the construction ofelectric switches to secure a more perfect operation thereof and toprevent injury to the parts of the switch and the apparatus that may beassociated therewith.

Generally speaking, in the preferred embodiment of the invention Iemploy a reciprocating support for switch parts and contact mechanismassociated therewith, the apparatus being preferably disposed within abox containing oil in suificient quantity to immerse the portions of thecontact parts that are initially engaged with each other.

More specifically, the preferred embodiment of the invention consists ina reciprocating support upon which a plurality of plugs are preferablyflexibly connected, a base upon which alined thimbles are mounted, and abox containing the entire apparatus in which oil is preferably disposedfor preventing injury between the contact members of the switch.

I also preferably provide means for producing a vacuum upon breakingengagement between contact parts, the oil or other suitable :lluid beingdrawn into the vacuum as the contact parts separate, whereby arcs areprevented or extinguished.

It is desirable in controlling the distribution of multiphase currentsthat all of the circuits conveying these currents be broken andcompleted simultaneouslyin controlling their distribution.- To this endI so relatively dispose and proportion the plugs and thimbles that thevarious transmission-conductors ineluding the same are simultaneouslycompleted or broken. In order that the plugs may readily accommodatethemselves to any irregularities in the engaging portions of thethimbles,l preferably flexibly mount the same upon their common support,as by pivotal or universal joints.

In order that my invention may be more fully understood, I will explainthe same by reference to the accompanying drawings,illustrating thepreferred embodiment thereof, in

which Figure l is a sectional elevation of my improved apparatus on line1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view thereof on line 2 2 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the switch as associatedwith a system of distribution.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the different figures.

The insulating-base A is mounted within a containing-box B, preferablyhermetically sealed. The basesupports thimbles or equivalentcontactportions C C D D E'E F F upon its upper face and thimbles C C D D E E FF upon its lower face. In the particular form of switch shown thethimbles C C D D E E and F F are electrically connected in pairs, asshown most clearly in Fig. 3, said thimbles being alined respec-' tivelywith thimbles C C, D D, E E, and F F. The thimbles are preferablyelongated, as shown. The base is provided with holes where the thimblesare disposed, which serve to freely admit oil to the working parts. Thethimbles upon the upper face of the base are provided with suitablestems with which the circuit-conductors are connected. A vertiocally-reciprocating rod G extends through a stuffing-box in the cover B,suitable lever mechanism G being provided for actuating said rod. Asupport II of insulating material is secured at an intermediate portionof the 5 rod G, said rod passing through a hole in the base A, servingto guide the rod Gin a rectilineal path. Plugs I I are flexiblysuspended from the support II, preferably in the manner shown in Fig. 1.These plugs are preferably provided with longitudinal slits to cause thesame to have spring-like engagement with the thimbles. When the circuitsare to be opened, the plugs are elevated to bring the same out ofengagement with thelower thimbles, but not enough to disengage the samefrom the upper thimbles. The plugs thus constitute circuit-terminals.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, the switch in the formillustrated is especially adapted for use in controlling a pinrality ofcircuits which convey multiphase currents. A generator K of biphasecurrent is illustrated. The thimbles and plugs are preferably sorelatively disposed and proportioned that the conductors will besimultaneously opened or closed by the switch when operated.

The circuits may be readily traced by an inspection of Fig. 3, dottedlines being employed to illustrate the path afforded for current by theplugs where said plugs are obscured by other portions of the diagram.'lranslating devices, as lamps L and a motor L, are connected with thecircuits.

The oil in the box serves to obviate or (BX-- tinguish arcs. Toreinforce this action of the oil, I preferably employ the constructionshown in Fig. 3. The lower ends of the thimbles are perforated,leather-faced caps bein preferably employed for normally sealing theseperforations, springs being provided to normally maintain the caps orvalves in a closed position.

The plugs snugly fit the interior boxes of the thimbles. As the plugsare elevated a vacuum is created in each thimble. As the plugs areremoved from engagement with the thimbles oil rushes in at the topopening of each thimble to fill the vacuum therein, whereby arcingbetween the plugs and thimbles is most thoroughly counteracted.

IVhile I have herein shown and particularlydescribed the preferredembodiment of my invention, it is obvious that modifications may bereadily made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and Ido not therefore desire to be limited to the precise construction shown;but,

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure .by Letters Patent, is

1. In a switch, the combination with a terminal-thimble, of aterminal-plug filling the bore of the thimble, and a valve in thethimble adapted to coact with the plug to produce a vacuum or partialvacuum in the thimble upon the withdrawal of the plug, to cause theadmission of fluid between the thimble and plug, substantially asdescribed.

2. In an electric switch, the combination with a thimble, of a plug anda valve cooperating with the plug and thimble for the production of avacuum between the switch-contacts, substantially as described.

3. In an electric switch, the combination with a thimble, of aterminal-plug, and a valve cooperating with said plug for the productionof a vacuum in the thimble to cause the admissionof fluid between thethimble and plug, substantially as described.

I. In an electric switch, the combination with a support,ofa pluralityof contact-plu gs, each having a flexible connection with said support,each flexible connection being independent of the other, and a pluralityof thimbles adapted for engagement with said plugs, said plugs andthimbles being relatively movable, the plugs by reason of their flexibleconnection with said support being movable toward or from each other,whereby the plugs may accommodate themselves to their thimblesindependently of each other, substantially as described.

5. In an electric switch, the combination with one switch membercomprising a plurality of contact portions in the form of plugs, of asecond switch member comprising a pluralityof contact portions in theform of thimbles, a support for the plugs, and a support for thethimbles, the contact portions of one member of the switch each having aflexible connection with its support, whereby the thimbles and plugs maybe readily engaged with each other, substantially as described.

6. In an electric switch, the combination with a plug, of meanscontrolled thereby for producing a vacuum or partial vacuum and a supplyof insulating liquid, whereby arcs may be extinguished or prevented,substantially as described.

7. In a device for extinguishing or prevent ing arcs betweencontact-points, the combination with a supply of insulating liquid, ofmeans for causing a vacuum or partial vacuum to effect a flow of saidfluid between contact-points, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 31st day ofJanuary, A. I). 1898.

JACOB CLOOS.

\Vitnesses:

PAUL D. CARPENTER, JULIA FAY SEAMANS.

